Vulcanizer



March 7, 1944. J. w. BRUNDAGE 2,343,641

VULCANIZER Filed Aug. 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. JAMES w. BR UNDAGE.

ATTORNEYS March 7, 1944. J. w. BRUNDAGE VULCANIZER Y Filed Aug. 25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 R we G EA D N a W s E M A J N MI H mywmwm/ ATTORNEY5 March 7, 1944. J. w. BRUNDAGE VULCANIZER Filed Au 25, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet. 4

JAMES W. BRUNDAGE ATTORNEYS.

Patented Mar. 7, 1944 2,343,041 votcmzna James W. Brundage. Akron, Ohio, assignor, by mesne assignments, to The McNeil Machine and Engineering Company, Akron, Ohio, at corporation of Ohio Application August 25, 1939, Serial No. 291,914

10 Claims.

This invention relates, as indicated, to vulcanizers, and more particularly to unit-type machines comprising a pair of press heads adapted to carry the complementary mold sections which when brought together define the curing chamber therebetween.

It is a principal object of my invention to provid an apparatus of the character described which is noteworthy for its simplicity of construction and operation and which can thus be economically constructed and maintained.

A further object of my invention is to provide a mechanism particularly adapted for the curing of automobile tire casings and which, due to the manner of its construction and operation, insures a separation of the cured article from the mold elements as the press is opened at the end of the curing period.

A further and more particular object of my invention is to provide improved means for supporting and controlling the movement of that press head to which the principal movement is effected in opening and closing the press.

Other objects of my invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, said invention, then, consists or the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting. however. but one of various mechanical forms in whichthe principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fi 1 is a side elevational view of a vulcanizer constructed in accordance with the principles of my invention; r

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the construction illustrated in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the construction as illustrated in Fig. 2 taken on a plane substantially indicated by the line 3-3;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of thelower portion of the press as illustrated in Fig. 1, showing in detail the arrangement of the mold elements and the improved article stripping device forming .a part of my invention;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in the lower portion of Fig. 4, i. e., the actuating mechanism for the stripper;

Fig. 6 is a front elevational view of a portion of a press'similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 but showing incorporated therein an auxiliary stripping device forming a part of my invention;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the structure as illustrated in Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of such structure.

v Referring now more specifically to the drawings and more especially to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the press here illustrated as one embodiment of my invention comprises a base generally indicated at I, a movable head 2 and supporting and actuating mechanism generally indicated at l, for the purpose of moving the upper head 2 relatively to the lower head.

The base I comprises, as perhaps most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4, a supporting frame 4 which may be of a casting or fabricated from structural steel shapes. Supported on the base is a steam chambered lower mold element 5 having a matrix fac on its upper surface which cooperates with the steam chambered upper mold element 6 carried by the upper head 2 in defining a mold cavity I therebetween and wherein the work, such as an automobile tire casing 8, may be cured. Shields 9 and III are respectively provided around the lower and upper mold elements for the purposes well known in the art.

Journalied in suitable bearings provided therefor in the base I is a shaft II which on its opposite ends has side arms I2 secured thereto. The upper ends of the side arms l2 are engaged by the trunnions I3 of the head link member ll which at its forward end is provided with spaced arms l5 pivotally secured at IE to the upper press head 2. A pair of upwardly extending side plates I! are respectivelysecured to opposite sides of the base I. A' tubular driving housing I8 is secured between the side plates I! at their upper rear extremities such housing containing therein and supporting a driving motor generally indicated at l9 and a drive shaft 20. The motor and drive shaft are interconnected by a suitable train of speed reducing gears whereby energization of the motor l9 results in a driving of the shaft 20 in either direction as selected. Mounted on opposite ends of the drive shaft 20 are pinions 2| which mesh with a rack 22. The rack 22 is arcuate in form with its center at the axis of the shaft I I. The rack 22 is secured to a plate 23 carried by the side arms l2. It will thus be observed that when the shaft 20 is energized for rotation of the pinions 2i such pinions meshing with the rack 22 cause the plates 23' and the side arms l2 to which they are connected to be rotated about the axis of the shaft H. The construction of this supporting mechanism as thus far described is more particularly disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application Serial No. 245,728, filed December 14, 1938. In view of the detailed disclosure of the construction of the actuating means for the side arms I! in said earlier application and since such details form no part of the present invention, it is believed unnecessary to more particularly illustrate or describe the same in this case.

Mounted inwardly of the side plates 11 are aux-.-

iliary plates 28 which in the present construction perform substantially the same function as the auxiliary side plates 4' in the construction illustrated in my aforesaid prior application.

The auxiliary side plates 23 are hung on the main side plates H by means of stub shafts 24 and 25 carried by the main side plates i1 and provided with rollers which operate in slots and I 21, respectively, formed in the auxiliary side plates 23. Mounted on the main side plates I! are brackets 28 and I! which serve as abutments for the springs 30 and II, respectively. The opposite ends of such springs bear against brackets 32 and 33, respectively, which are secured to the auxiliary side plate 23. The springs 30 and 3| are normally under compression and thus tend to move the auxiliary side .plate 23, as viewed in Fig. 3, to the left so that the rollers on the shafts 14 and 25 bear against the right hand ends of the slots 28 and 21.

The main side plates I! are provided with openings 84 and in the area opposite such openings, as most clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, the auxiliary plates 23 on oppositesides of .the machine havea shaft 35 iournalled therein which extends across the back of the machine. On opposite ends of such shafts and adjacent the in ner face of the plates 23' there are mounted arms '36. The forwardly extending portion of such arms ca y aroller 31 and the rearwardly extending portionsof-such arms comprise fingers '38. The outer face of the main side plates Il carry abutments I! and 40. v

A cam member 4| of the shape as, clearly illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3 is mounted" on the inner face-of each of the plates 23'.

.Each of the auxiliary plates 23 is provided with cam slots 42 .and 43 respectively. The upper head 2 carries-stub shafts 44 on opposite sides thereof, which stub shafts extend into the cam slots 42. Rollers 45 are mounted on the stub shafts 44 and operate in the camslots42.

Projecting downwardly from the rear of the upper head 2, at opposite sides thereof, are arms 48; the lower ends ofwhich carry stub shafts 41 which extend into the cam slots 43.- Rollers 48 are mounted on the. stub shafts 41 and guide such stub shafts in their associated cam slots.

' The operation-of-the above-described elements of the construction will be explained in greater detail in connection with the general description of the operation of the apparatus.

The vulcanizer of my invention is particularly applicable for vulcanization-of automobile tire casings whi h areinternally supported during the curing period by means of a curing bag 49,

as most clearly illustrated in Fig. 4. These curing 'bags are so constructed that they extend inwardly as at 50, radially inwardly of the bead 5| of the tire casing.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention a stripper ring 52 is provided which actually forms a part of the lower mold element 5, although separable therefrom. As illustrated in Fig. 4, this stripper ring extends into the mold cavity for a distance Just sumcient to engage the curing bag 40 in its inwardly extending area II but not sufficient to engage the bead ll of the tire casing.

The stripper ring i2 is mounted on a spider II which is carried bya vertical shaft 54 slidably supported in a bearing ii centrally of the lower mold element 5.

The shaft II has secured thereto in an area centrally of the press a cam member generally indicated at II and which for convenience consists of two sections l1 and I8 respectively, which may be' clamped together as by bolting around the shaft I l and secured against rotation thereon by means of a key such as 5|, The section 51 carries a circular cam member II and the section 58 carries a finger such as II.

The base I also supports a shaft 2, the axis of which is substantialhr parallel to the axis of the shaft ll. As most clearly illustrated in Fig. 5, an arm 63 is pivotally mounted on the shaft 61. The arm 63 carries a roller 64 on a shaft 65, such roller arranged to engage the lower end of the vertical shaft 54. The bifurcated terminal 86 of the arm 63 rotatably supports an angle shaped member 61 on a pin II. The depending arm 6! of the member 61 carries a roller II and the other arm ll acts as a counterweight.

-Now referring to Figs. 6, '1 and 8, it will be noted that the upper head 2 is provided with bosses 12 and II on opposite sides thereof. Arms I4 and 15 are rotatably mounted on stub shafts l8 and TI respectively carried by the bosses I2 and 13. The forward ends of the arms 14 and 15 are interconnected by meansof a stripper bar 18.

Rotatably supported on the stub shaft I8 is a pinion 19., Friction material 80, such as the fibrous material used in brake bands, is interposed between the pinion and the hub of the arm 14. A spring ll mounted on the stub shaft 16 and retained thereon by the collar 82, resiliently urges the pinion 19 into engagement with the friction material 8li. To the arm i5 of the head link member which is adjacent the pinion 18, there is secured a gear segment 83 which meshes with the pinion 18. It will be observed that the arm I! is of such proportions that when the press is closed, as illustrated in Fig. '7, the cross bar of the stripper arm 18 rests against the lower mold section 5 adjacent the parting 50 line between the molds.

The operation oi the above-described form of construction which comprises a preferred embodiment of my invention may be described as follows.

When the press is in the opened position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, a tire to be cured may be placed therein, the press closed by energizing the motor and counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 2|, which will result in bringing the mold elements 5 and 6 into closed relation to define the curing chamber therebetween. At the end of the curing cycle the motor [9 will be energized as by conventional automatic control mechanism to drive the pinion II in clockwise direction to open the press. Moving the pinion 2| in a clockwise direction will result in a clockwise movement of the plates 23' carrying the racks 22 and since such plates are connected to the side-arms I! the latter will likewise be rotated in a clockwise direction with a similar rotation of the shaft ll. As the plates 23 rotate in a clockwise direction, the inclined face a of the cam 4| will engage the roller 31 carried by the arm 36. The arm 38 is prevented from rotating in a counterclockwise direction by virtue of the fact that it is prevented from doing so by the stop 40. Since the arms 36 are mounted on the shaft 36 which is secured in the auxiliary side plates, the latter will be moved to the right by the inclined surface a of the cam 4|, this? movement being permitted by the slots 26 and 21 in which the supporting stub shafts 24 and 25 carried by the plates II are mounted. This movement to the right of the auxiliary side plates will continue until the roller 31 moves onto the portion 1) of the cam 4|. The position of the parts is then as illustrated in Fig. 3 of the-drawings. The initial separating movement of the mold sections is therefore an actual separation between their mating faces concurrent with a lateral shifting therebetween so that the tire casing is gripped by the forward edge of the upper mold section 6 and by the rear edge of the lowermold section 5. With the tire I thus gripped the mold sections separate with their faces substantially parallel until the stub shafts 44 and 41, or more particularly the rollers 45 and 48 carried thereby, reach the upper end of the vertical components of the cam slots 42 finger 6| carried by such shaft is likewise rotated so that it strikes the roller 10 and continued rotation of the shaft l I therefore causes a clockwise rotation of the arm 63 about the axis of its pivotal support 62. Such rotation of the arm 63 raises the vertical shaft 54, elevating the stripper ring 52 off from its seat on the lower mold element 5.

Separating movement of the mold elements, gripping the tire in the manner previously illustrated, tends to strip the tire from both mold sections. The stripper ring 52, being elevated in the manner described, further facilitates this stripping action, particularly in stripping the tire from the lower mold section 5 to which it usually adheres to the greatest extent. After the shaft II has rotated for a'distance suificient to bring are rotated relatively to the upper head 2. Such rotation results in a clockwise rotation of the gear segment 63, as illustrated-in Fig. 7, and a counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 16." This counterclockwise rotation of the pinion 16 tends to similarly rotate the stripper bar 16 about the axes of the stub shafts l6 and I1. To the extent that such counterclockwise rotation of the stripper bar is opposed by its striking an element of the press, the pinion I6 is permitted to rotate relatively to the arm I4 by virtue of the friction facing 36. Just as soon as the press elements separate for a distance sufficient to permit entry therebetween of thestripper bar I I the action of the pinion 19, through the friction facing 60, will move the-stripper bar 18 into engagement with the tire in the mold cavity. The stripper bar 18, therefore, engages under the forward edge of the tire and assists the gripping action of the forward edge of th upper mold element 6 in removing the tire from the lower mold element 6. As the press elementscontinue to open the stripper bar I8 continues its movement under. the stripped tire in the lower mold element I until the tire is completely stripped from the lower mold element. In the meantime the tire having been gripped by the rear edge of the lower mold section is stripped from the upper mold section at the rear of the press. Asis well known. the tire usually adheres to a greater extent to the lower mold section than to the upper. The

self-stripping efiect secured by the lateral shiftthe upper mold element 6 a substantial distance I,

above the lower mold section 5, the end of the finger 6| will clear the roller 10, permitting the arm 63, and consequently the vertical shaft 54, to drop so that the stripper ring 52 immediately returns to its seat on the lower mold element 5. When the shaft ll rotates in a counterclockwise direction during the closing movement of the press, the finger 6| strikes the right hand side of the roller 16, this, however, merely resulting in a rotation of the angle shaped member 61 about the axis of its pivotal support 68. Thus the arm 63 is not elevated during the closing movement of the press, complementary shoulders Illa on the arm 63 and the element 69 preventing the counterclockwise rotation of the arm 69 with respect to the arm 63 during the opening movement of the press.

The roller 64, cooperating with the circular cam element 60, maintains the arm 63 in proper position during the interval when the arm is not being acted upon by the finger 6|. 7

Likewise, during the early stages of opening movement of the press the arms I5 of the link I4 ing of the mold sections during their opening movement is generally suiilcient to strip the tire from the upper mold section and thus the 8119- ping action of the lower mold section at the rear of the tire is sumcient to effect separation between the tire and the upper mold section. When, however, the stripping effect of the gripping action of the forward edge of the upper mold section on the tire is augmented by the stripper bar 18 I always insure that the tire will be stripped from the lower mold Section.

The movement of the parts during the closing of the press isbelieved to be sufficiently selfevident from the description which has been given of their operation duringthe closing movement of the press.

It may be well to point out, however, that when the plates 23 move in a counterclockwise direction during closing movement of the press the cam element carried thereby does not vary the position of the auxiliary side plate 23 with respect to the main side plate II. This is due to the following fact. The cam element 4| in moving the shaft 35 and its associated auxiliary side plates to the right during the opening movement of the press causes the arm 36 to likewis move to the right. In so moving to the'right the finger 38 of the arm 36 slides over theabutment 36 and is guided thereby. After the roller 31 has passed over the cam element 4|, the springs and 3| return the auxiliary side plate 23 to the left for a distance suflicient for the finger 36 to clear the abutment 38. Now when the cam element '4l moves in a counterclockwise direction, i. e., during closing movement of the press the arm 36 is rotated lna clockwise direction for an amount sumcient to permit the roller 31 to rid up over the cam element 4| without moving the auxiliary side plate 23 to the right. It will thus be observed that while the opening movement of the press is effected by a separating and lateral shifting movement between the mold sections, however closing movement of the press is eflected by relative rectilinear movement between the mold elements, this being desirable in order that the molds in closing will not pinch the uncured article therebetw'een.

Other modes of applying the principl of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made asregards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any or the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

. only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the head of the tire, and means fimctionally responsive to opening movement of the press. for moving said stripper ring relatively to its associated mold element.

2. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured-on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements,a stripper ring sep rable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bend of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and separating movement to compress the tire diametrically between diagonally opposite areas on the tread surface and grip the tire at such areas respectively by said respective mold elements, and means functlonally responsive to opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring relatively to its associated mold element.

3. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the head of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the. curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly oi the head of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and SCDEI'Rt, in: movement such that the cured article in the pressis gripped at opposite sides respectively by tively by said-respective mold elements, means movable with one of said mold elements for automatic engagement, upon separation of said mold elements, with that side of the cured tire facing the other mold element, and means iunctionally responsive to opening movement of the press it:

moving said. stripper ring relatively to its associated mold element.

5. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the head of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire,

means for relatively moving said mold elements space therebetween upon separation thereof for engagement with the cured tire to separate the same from the other mold element, and means functionally responsive to opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring relatively 1 to its associated mold element.

said respective mold elements, means movable with, one of said mold elements for engagement with-that side of the cured article facing the other-mold element, and means functionally responslve to opening movement of the press for" moving said stripper ring relatively to its associated mold element.

4 A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the head of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and separating movement such that the cured article in the press is gripped atopposite sides respec- 6. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that'portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shiftingand separating movement such that the cured article in the press is gripped at opposite sides respectively by said respective mold elements, means functionally responsive to the initial stages of opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring oil. from its associated mold element, said stripper ring being returnable after such movement to its position on said mold element for the remainder of the opening movement and until the press-is again reopened.

7. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and separating movement such that the cured article in the press is gripped at opposite sides respectively by said respective mold elements, means movable with one of said mold elements for engagement with that side of the cured article facing the other mold element, means functionally responsive to the initial stages of opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring of! from its associated mold element, said stripper ring being returnable after such movement to its position on said mold element for the remainder of the opening movement and until the press is again reopened.

8. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and separating movement such that the cured article in the press is gripped at opposite sides respectively by said respective mold elements, means movable with one of said mold elements for automatic engagement,

upon separation of said mold elements, with that side of the cured tire facing the other mold element, means functionally responsive to the initial stages of opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring off from its associated mold element, said stripper ring being returnable after such movement to its position on said mold element for the remainder of the opening movement and until the press is again reopened.

9. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wall which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire,

means for relatively moving said mold elements apart by a lateral shifting and separating movement such that the cured article in the press is gripped at opposite sides respectively by said respective mold elements, means movable with one of said mold elements upon initial separation of said mold elements into engagement with the cured tire to separate the same from the other mold element, means functionally responsive to the initial stage of opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring off from its associated mold element, said stripper ring being returnable after such movement to its position on said mold element for the remainder of the opening movement and until the press is again reopened.

10. A vulcanizer press for pneumatic tires of the type cured on a curing bag which extends inwardly of the bead of the tire, comprising a pair of cooperating mold elements, a stripper ring separable from one of said mold elements and so formed that when positioned thereon it provides only that area of the curing chamber wal1 which is engaged by that portion of said curing bag which extends inwardly of the head of the tire, opening means for moving said mold elements apart effective upon operation thereof to separate the tire from both mold elements, and means functionally responsive to opening movement of the press for moving said stripper ring relative to its associated mold element.

JAMES W. BRUNDAQE. 

